SALISBURY, N.C. — Mario Pinto continued his assault on the South Atlantic Conference with a pair of goals on Saturday night, leading Lincoln Memorial University to a 2-0 victory over Catawba College in men’s soccer action in Salisbury, N.C. The win propels the Railsplitters to 9-3-1 on the season and 5-3 in the SAC, notching a tie for third place in the league standings. The Indians fall to 2-2-3 in the SAC standings and 7-6-3 on the season.

Pinto scored the only two goals of the match to direct the Railsplitters to a 2-0 triumph on the road. With his two goals, Pinto continues his torrid pace over the past six games. The Uberlandia, Brazil, native has compiled 12 goals over his last six appearances to push his season total to a SAC-best 17. He’s now eighth on the all-time record book at Lincoln Memorial with 30 career goals.

Pinto struck first at the 8:15 mark, using a dish from Leonardo Germniani to give the Railsplitters an early 1-0 lead. That score would remain throughout the majority of the contest until Pinto sealed it with his second score, coming at the 80:51 mark. Mario was assisted on that play by Fabio Fukumoto, who sent a cross into the box to be finished off by a header from Pinto. That put LMU out to a 2-0 lead which would fall as the final margin of victory for the Railsplitters.

The Indians only two attempts at goal came in the first half, as Carson Smith fired a shot at the 9:05 mark, while Keith Cooper struck a header at the 18:25 mark. Each of those attempts were stopped by LMU keeper Marcel Barwanietz.

Barwanietz competed in goal for the entire 90 minutes for the Railsplitters, making two saves total en route to recording the shutout for LMU. This fell as Barwanietz’s fifth shutout of the season, his first at Lincoln Memorial.

Evan Harvey also played the entire game in goal for the Indians, tallying three stops, allowing the two goals to Pinto.

Lincoln Memorial outshot the Indians 15-11, paced by seven shots from Pinto. Chris Nash, Yuri Passos and Diego Deschamp each recorded a pair of shots. Catawba tallied six corners to only one for the Railsplitters.

LMU will be back in action today as they travel to Queens College, poised to join the South Atlantic Conference next season, for a nonconference battle in Charlotte, N.C. That contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m.